LA Dodgers set to add lefty Paul Maholm to rotation

Saturday

Feb 8, 2014 at 6:00 AMFeb 9, 2014 at 12:02 AM

The Los Angeles Dodgers apparently have increased their already considerable pitching depth with the addition of left-hander Paul Maholm. The Dodgers did not announce the addition, but Maholm was in the clubhouse when pitchers and catchers reported to the team's Arizona spring training facility on Saturday.

His name was even on a locker temporarily, but it was removed apparently because the deal had not been made public. Maholm declined to talk to reporters. The 31-year-old pitcher was 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts for the Atlanta Braves last season. Maholm has a career record of 76-95 in 243 major league appearances.

TENNIS

Italy leads US, 2-0, in Fed Cup

Karin Knapp and Camila Giorgi won the opening singles matches to give Italy a 2-0 lead over the United States in their Fed Cup quarterfinal in Cleveland. Knapp beat Christina McHale, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, in the first match at Cleveland Public Auditorium, and Giorgi routed Madison Keys, 6-2, 6-1, in the second. Since World Group play began in 1995, the United States is 0-10 after falling behind 0-2. The quarterfinal winner will face the Spain-Czech Republic winner in the semifinals in April.

Top-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany and defending champion Marin Cilic of Croatia reached the final of the Zagreb Indoors. Haas rallied to defeat British lucky loser Daniel Evans, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, while Cilic defeated German qualifier Bjorn Phau, 6-3, 6-4, in the other semifinal. Haas will attempt to win his 16th ATP title today.

GOLF

Allen hangs onto Allianz lead

Michael Allen birdied four of his last eight holes for a 3-under 69 and a one-stroke lead over Scott Dunlap and Chien Soon Lu in the Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Fla. A day after becoming the ninth player to shoot a 60 on the Champions Tour, Allen fell out of the lead after playing his first 11 holes in 1 over. He birdied the next two holes to move into a share of the lead and birdied the last two to finish two rounds at 15-under 129. With calm, warm condition on The Old Course, the field combined for a scoring average of 69.6, the lowest in the eight-year history of the event. Lu shot his second straight 65, and Dunlap followed his opening 63 with a 67. Both players are winless on the tour. Duffy Waldorf was fourth at 13 under after a 63. He played the front nine in 7-under 29.

SOCCER

US women beat Russia in soccer

Carli Lloyd and Christen Press each scored twice to help the U.S. women's soccer team beat Russia, 7-0, in an exhibition game in Boca Raton, Fla. Abby Wambach entered 14 minutes into the second half and scored the seventh goal in the 67th minute. She has a record 164 international goals. Heather O'Reilly and Sydney Leroux also scored. The United States had a 32-3 shots advantage, and Russia only had one shot on goal.

Workers at a World Cup stadium in the jungle city of Manaus are threatening to go on strike to demand better conditions following a third recent construction-related death at the venue. A walkout could further delay the completion of the Arena da Amazonia just months before the start of soccer's showcase tournament in Brazil. ''We have to guarantee the workers' rights and their safety,'' union leader Cicero Custodio told Brazilian news media. ''Nobody will get in on Monday.'' A 55-year-old Portuguese man was killed in an accident on Friday while disassembling a crane that was used to install the stadium's roof, becoming the third worker to die at the venue in less than a year.

MISCELLANY

UFC fighter charged in threat

An Ultimate Fighting Champion fighter was being held in a Florida jail Saturday, accused of threatening his wife with a gun, authorities said. Broward County jail records show that Thiago Silva, 31, was being held without bond following his arrest Thursday on charges that included attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and obstruction without violence. But his attorney, Scott Saul, told The Associated Press that the charges were downgraded during a Friday court appearance to aggravated assault with a firearm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Saul said he entered a not guilty plea on Silva's behalf. Authorities said Silva took a gun to a mixed martial arts academy in Oakland Park and threatened to shoot his estranged wife, Thaysa, and her now-boyfriend.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race's competitive starting point could move hundreds of miles north to Fairbanks because of poor trail conditions. Race officials sent an email to mushers Friday saying the conditions in the Alaska Range may force the 1,000-mile race to start in Fairbanks instead of Willow, which is about 50 miles north of Anchorage. Race officials said a decision on the starting point will be made on Feb. 17.